Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method comprising: transmitting a query by a computing device in a domain; receiving, by the computing device, a response to the query from one or more neighbor-casting (NC) groups in the domain each including one or more said computing devices; applying, by the computing device, a predetermined criteria to select one NC group, wherein the predetermined criteria is selected from the group comprising: the number of said computing devices in the selected NC group; a length of time between the query and the response from the selected NC group; and a combination of the foregoing; joining the computing device to the selected NC group; and when a length of time between a subsequent query from the computing device and other computing devices in the selected NC group exceeds a predetermined threshold: removing the computing device from the initial NC group; reapplying the predetermined criteria to select a different NC group; and joining the computing device to the different NC group.
2. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein each said NC group has an identifier that is unique to other said NC groups in the domain.
3. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein each said computing device is selected from among a video game console, a set top box, an automatic teller machine, a Personal Digital Assistance (PDA), a Personal Computer (PC), a cellular telephone, a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, a multifunction peripheral device, and a server.
4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein each said response to the query is transmitted by one said computing device in a respective said NC group.
5. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the query is transmitted over a TCP network with a broadcast or multicast.
6. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined criteria to select one said NC group ignores each said response from any said NC group for which the length of time between the query and the response exceeds a predetermined maximum.
7. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein: each said response includes the number of computing devices in the responding said NC group; and the predetermined criteria to select one said NC group ignores any said NC group for which the response includes the number of computing devices in the responding said NC group that exceeds a predetermined maximum.
8. The method as defined in claim 7 , wherein each said response includes an identifier that is unique to the responding said NC group in the domain.
9. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein one or more of the transmitting, the receiving, the applying, and the joining are executed by a component of an operating system of the computing device that is joined to the selected NC group.
10. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein each of the transmitting, the receiving, the applying, and the joining are executed by the operating system of the computing device joined to the selected NC group.
11. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein one or more of the transmitting, the receiving, the applying, and the joining are executed by an application that is running on the computing device joined to the selected NC group.
12. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the applying further comprises determining at least one of: a closest said NC group for which the corresponding response was first to be received; and a smallest said NC group that has the least number of the computing devices from among those said NC groups for which the response was received.
13. The method as defined in claim 12 , wherein the applying further comprises selecting the one said NC group to be the smallest said NC group when the closest said NC group is more than one said NC group.
14. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the applying further comprises ordering said NC groups for which a corresponding said response was received according to: the length of time between the query and the corresponding response; and a number that quantifies the computing devices in the corresponding NC group as is contained in the corresponding response.
15. The method as defined in claim 14 , wherein: the predetermined criteria to select one said NC group ignores each said response from any said NC group for which the length of time between the query and the response exceeds a predetermined maximum; and the selected NC group is selected by a condition that is selected from the group consisting of: the length of time between the query and the corresponding response is least; the number of said computing devices contained in the corresponding response is least; and the number of members contained in the corresponding response is least when more than one said NC group had the least length of time between the query and the corresponding response.
16. A computer storage media comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 1 .
17. A method comprising: transmitting a query by an initial computing device in a domain, wherein the initial computing device is in an initial NC group that contains a number of computing devices that are also in the domain; receiving, by the initial computing device, a response to the query from one or more NC groups in the domain each including one or more computing devices; if a latency in response times between the initial computing device and other computing devices within the initial NC group is unacceptable, then: applying, by the computing device, predetermined criteria to select one of the one or more NC groups, wherein the predetermined criteria is selected from the group comprising: the number of said computing devices in the selected NC group; a length of time between the query and the response from the selected NC group; and a combination of the foregoing; removing the initial computing device from the initial NC group; and joining the initial computing device to the selected NC group, wherein computing devices within the selected NC group have a latency in response time with the initial computing device that is acceptable.
18. The method as defined in claim 17 , wherein each said NC group has an identifier that is unique to other said NC groups in the domain.
19. The method as defined in claim 17 , wherein each said computing device is selected from among a video game console, a set top box, an automatic teller machine, a PDA, a PC, a cellular telephone, a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, a multifunction peripheral device, and a server.
20. The method as defined in claim 17 , wherein each said response to the query is transmitted by one said computing device in a respective said NC group.
21. The method as defined in claim 17 , wherein the query is transmitted over a TCP network with a broadcast or multicast.
22. The method as defined in claim 17 , wherein the predetermined criteria to select one said NC group ignores each said response from any said NC group for which the length of time between the query and the response exceeds a predetermined maximum.
23. The method as defined in claim 17 , wherein: each said response includes the number of computing devices in the responding said NC group; and the predetermined criteria to select one said NC group ignores any said NC group for which the response includes the number of computing devices in the responding said NC group that exceeds a predetermined maximum.
24. The method as defined in claim 23 , wherein each said response includes an identifier that is unique to the responding said NC group in the domain.
25. The method as defined in claim 17 , wherein one or more of the transmitting, the receiving, the applying, and the joining are executed by a component of an operating system of the initial computing device.
26. The method as defined in claim 25 , wherein each of the transmitting, the receiving, the applying, and the joining are executed by the operating system of the initial computing device.
27. The method as defined in claim 17 , wherein one or more of the transmitting, the receiving, the applying, and the joining are executed by an application that is running on the initial computing device.
28. The method as defined in claim 17 , wherein the applying further comprises determining at least one of: a closest said NC group for which the corresponding response was first to be received; and a smallest said NC group that has the least number of the computing devices from among those said NC groups for which the response was received.
29. The method as defined in claim 28 , wherein the applying further comprises selecting the one said NC group to be the smallest said NC group when the closest said NC group is more than one said NC group.
30. The method as defined in claim 17 , wherein the applying further comprises ordering said NC groups for which a corresponding said response was received according to: the length of time between the query and the corresponding response; and a number quantifying the computing devices in the corresponding NC group as is contained in the corresponding response.
31. The method as defined in claim 30 , wherein: the predetermined criteria to select one said NC group ignores each said response from any said NC group for which the length of time between the query and the response exceeds a predetermined maximum; and the selected NC group is selected by a condition that is selected from the group consisting of: the length of time between the query and the corresponding response is least; a number of said computing devices in the corresponding NC group as contained in the corresponding response is least; and the number of members contained in the corresponding response is least when more than one said NC group had the least length of time between the query and the corresponding response.
32. A computer storage media comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 17 .
33. A method comprising: transmitting a query by an initial computing device in a domain, wherein the computing device is in an initial NC group that contains a number of said computing devices in the domain; receiving by the initial computing device a group response to the query from one or more related said computing devices that are in the initial NC group; when a length of time between the query and each group response exceeds a predetermined threshold: applying, by the initial computing device, a predetermined criteria to select one said NC group other than the initial NC group, wherein the predetermined criteria is selected from the group comprising: the number of said computing devices in the selected NC group; a length of time between the query and the group response from the selected NC group; and a combination of the foregoing; removing the initial computing device from the initial NC group; and joining the initial computing device to the selected NC group.
34. The method as defined in claim 33 , wherein removing the initial computing device from the initial NC group is done according to a predetermined criteria which includes a length of time between the query and the group response.
35. A computer storage media comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 33 .
36. A method comprising: transmitting a query by an initial computing device in a domain, wherein the initial computing device is in an initial NC group that contains a number of computing devices in the domain; receiving by the initial computing device: a group response to the query from one or more related computing devices that are in the initial NC group; and an other group response to the query from one or more NC groups in the domain each including one or more computing devices; when a length of time between the query and each said group response exceeds a predetermined threshold: applying, by the initial computing device, a predetermined criteria to select one said NC group other than the initial NC group, wherein the predetermined criteria is selected from the group consisting of: the number of said computing devices in the selected NC group; a length of time between the query and the other group response from the selected NC group; and a combination of the foregoing; removing the initial computing device from the initial NC group; and joining the initial computing device to the selected NC group; and updating software on computing devices in the selected NC group, wherein the updating comprises deploying software, uninstalling software, and providing security patches to installed software, and wherein the software updating includes setting the predetermined criteria to locate computing devices within the selected NC group according to backup needs of computing devices within the NC group.
37. The method as defined in claim 36 , wherein: the predetermined criteria to select one said NC group ignores each said other group response from any said NC group for which the length of time between the query and the other group response exceeds a predetermined maximum; and the selected NC group is selected by a condition that is selected from the group consisting of: the length of time between the query and the corresponding other group response is least; or a number of said computing devices in the corresponding NC group as in contained in the corresponding other group response is least; and the number of members as contained in the corresponding other group response is least when more than one said NC group had the least length of time between the query and the corresponding other group response.
38. A computer storage media comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method of claim 36 .
Unknown
April 20, 2010
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